OVER E2 MILLION INCREASE FOR ARTS AND CULTURE

BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU

MBABANE – Great news for the Eswatini local art industry, as its budget has been increased by E2 131 957 for Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC).

This year’s allocation for ENCAC was E10 814 692, compared to last year, where it was E8 682 735.

Today, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg presented a National budget worth E29.42 billion for the 2024/25 Financial Year. The Ministries of Education and Health will receive the two biggest allocations from this year’s budget, being allocated E5 billion and E3 billion, respectively. Combined, the Ministries of Education and Health will make up about 27 percent of the total national budget.

“The theme of this year’s budget is ‘Nkwe for growth!’ (To hit the ground running).

It is worth mentioning that arts and culture fall under the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. The Department of Sports within the Ministry got E58 626 217 allocations for the other seven portfolios that fall under the ministry. Last year, the ministry and its seven disciples got E53 424 749.

Below are the seven disciplines that fall under the Ministry of Sports Culture and Youth Affairs and its allocations;

1. Youth Affairs For Youth Development Fund                                            E 16 867 646
2.  National Football Association Of Eswatini,                                               E5 000 000
3. National Youth Council,                                                                               E 5 842 766
4. Eswatini Sports Council,                                                                        E19 415 221
5.  Council Of Arts And Culture,                                                                         E10 814 692
6.  Grants to Development Zone Six of the Supreme Council for Sports,          E 265 483.
7. Grants to Commonwealth Secretariat Youth Exchange Programme              E420 409.

When addressing the media after the tabling of the allocation, Minister of Sports Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima touched on the upgrading of the Somhlolo National Stadium.

An amount of E35 million has been allocated for  the rehab of Somhlolo National Stadium: The money for the rehabilitation of the stadium has been split as follows:

• E10 000 000 for the VVIP hospitality area.
• E9 000 000 for sewers and toilets.
• E3 000 000 for the media room.
• E2 000 000 for the VIP gate.
• E3 000 000 for the giant screen.
• E2 000 000 for the backup generator.
• E1 000 000 for the retractable tunnel.
• E5 000 000 for professional fees and contingencies.